The Indian cricket team has suffered a major setback ahead of the Sri Lanka tour. Team India’s leading fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, will miss the Test series against Sri Lanka due to injury. After the Centre of Excellence did not clear him to play, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has selected young fast bowler Aaqib Nabi from Jammu and Kashmir as his replacement. Aaqib Nabi has received his first call-up to the senior Indian team, a move that is being seen as a result of his consistent performances in domestic cricket.
Now, will he get a chance in the final eleven in the Test series against Sri Lanka and how will he perform at the international level? Cricket fans are paying attention to this. In the last two Ranji Trophy seasons, Aaqib Nabi has truly stunned the opposition batsmen with his fast bowling. He has taken 104 wickets in two seasons, 60 of which were in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season. He played a key role in Jammu and Kashmir’s historic Ranji Trophy victory. In addition, he recently participated in the India ‘A’ team’s tour of Sri Lanka. During that tour, he caught the attention of the selection committee by taking 6 wickets in two first-class matches.
Aaqib Nabi is a prominent name in domestic cricket. The 29-year-old has played 43 first-class matches, taking 162 wickets in 71 innings at an impressive average of 18.63. His best performance in an innings is 7 wickets for 24 runs. Aaqib is also capable of contributing with the bat; he has scored 999 runs in first-class cricket, including two half-centuries.
With his selection in the Indian team, Aaqib Nabi has a great opportunity to prove himself. His consistent pace, accurate line and length, and swing bowling are considered his key strengths. If he gets the chance to make his Test debut in the Sri Lanka series, he could be a key figure in the future of Indian fast bowling.